PSALM 11: Faith or Fear? (Psalm 11:1-7)

What are the righteous to do when the wicked seem to be prevailing and the foundations of society are being destroyed? Should we yield to fear and flee like a bird to safety, or run to the Lord, to find our refuge in Him? When we wait on the Lord, we will rise up high like an eagle, enabling us to see the big picture from God's perspective (Isaiah 40:31). David faced many evils and dangers (v1-3), but put his trust in the Lord (v1), and as a result he saw through the eyes of faith that the Lord is enthroned in Heaven far above all. Moreover, God sees all and is testing all men with great interest, to see who He will accept and who He will reject (v4). Thus God is in ultimate control and evil is only temporary. Meanwhile, the Lord is testing, refining and developing the righteous through all the trials of life. He is interested in how we respond, whether in faith or in fear (v5a). Knowing this, David's fear of God outweighs his fear of man. His main concern is to please God, rather than focusing on what man may do to him. Therefore, what can the righteous do in the face of evil? They should put their trust in God, look to Heaven, where God is enthroned on High, pray, and knowing that God is watching them, be faithful and obedient in doing His will. They can be sure that God is in ultimate control and will work all things for His glory and their good. God hates sin and will reject the wicked if they do not repent (v5b), so He will judge all evil doers, which means righteousness will finally prevail. Thus, David concludes by contrasting the eternal destiny of the wicked in Hell (v6), with the eternal destiny of the righteous in Glory, enjoying face to face fellowship with their Lord (v7).